Dad with MS targets half marathon world record

A man from Liverpool has set himself the challenge of breaking a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon run by a man with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Father-of-two David Price, 42, was diagnosed with MS in 2018 after starting to struggle with his balance and peripheral vision.

Eight years on, Price is preparing to attempt the record at the Manchester Half Marathon, but admits to feeling nervous.

The current record is held by Chris White, who achieved a time of 1 hour 30 minutes and 46 seconds in Brighton in March this year.

"It would mean the world to me to break the record," David said. "I'm not underestimating how much of a challenge it will be, but it would be absolutely fantastic."

David, who works in IT, said his symptoms of MS first became noticeable in the office.

"I was stumbling around the office and knocking things off desks. My peripheral vision and senses had gone a little bit strange and weird," he said, adding that he also "started to get tingling arms and legs."

David described his diagnosis of MS as a "shock to the system", and something that took a long time to come to terms with.

"Me and the wife didn't have a clue what multiple sclerosis was," David recalled.

"It took me about three years to accept I had this long-term disability."

Despite medication, life has its daily challenges.

"You will have times where your cognitive functions aren't quite right or your thought process isn't quite where it should be.

"Like when you try to speak. You know what you want to say, but you struggle to get it out."

In 2021, David started to run and lift weights, something he said brought out a "remarkable" change in him.

"I never looked back from that point," he said. "I changed my mindset."

Training for Sunday's race, David said he has been listening to his body closely.

"I've got to accept that just because it's on the training plan, doesn't mean it has to be done.

"I've got to be big enough to say I'm not capable of doing that today - I need to take a rest day.'"

He said he wanted to attempt the world record to show others that setting high goals is possible.

"I'm not defined by MS," he said.

"And MS doesn't define me."

The Manchester Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 4 October.

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